You do benefit from bridges you never see, though. For instance, if you move to an area in the future that is serviced by that bridge, or if food deliveries to your supermarket come over it.
And I think the food deliveries should increase their prices appropriately. Ya' know, competition.
In medieval europe there were tolls everywhere on roads, bridges, gates, etc... And there was hardly any commerce because it was too expensive. The economy started to pick up once those tolls (many of which were senseless, i.e. not used for repairs or maintenance) were banned.
Even if true, transportation and commerce is very different today.
Yeah, but this would be terrible without some sort of standardized fast-pay system.
Obviously, they already have such things we can employ.
And with a fast-pay system, there will be a lot of people hacking it to evade payment.
Just as mega-corps and politicians are "hacking" around the dubious system we have now.
Secondly, roads are geographic monopolies. If someone decides to overcharge you, you are shit out of luck. Sure, you can go around, but that would suck.
Competition would figure that out too, no doubt. Plus, some roads would actually be maintained better than others, getting drivers' preference!
Charging for what people use makes sense when the cost of compliance is relatively small. Otherwise, you are better off with a socialized cost.
I respectfully disagree. What we have now is a mess. An under-funded, mis-funded mess.
The feedback loops of all these subsidies are long, unwieldy, wasteful and prone to abuse. I don't think the government should be in the business of encouraging anything - let the markets decide what are the best ways. No doubt, things like electric cars will find their niche on their own.
As an aside, I think ALL larger roads should be toll roads, where the users are the ones who pay. Again, it (the market) would resolve everything on its own versus people paying for bridges they'll never see. It's accurate and it's fair.
Annnnd, what happens when I'm trying to back away from danger into some tall grass; is it going to let me, or is it going to overrule the human? I'm sick to death of engineers, etc., thinking they've thought of everything, to the detriment of the unsuspecting users, decades later.
Please let's not forget that these electronic mirrors will require support electronics, wiring and viewing screens. All of these things use electricity, not free sunlight, for the life of the car. And this electricity detracts from the power of the engine of the car, as does the added weight of the these components.
'Doesn't sound like much savings to me, especially considering that these components WILL BREAK in time. When my $250+ auto-dimming mirror broke after being ~12 years old, I replaced it with a $5 mirror from the junkyard of a car that did not have the pointless, auto-dimming feature.
Google Maps still works in Opera 12 (~5 years old) as I use it now and again.
I still miss the Javascript-less version of mapping that Yahoo! used to have during the dial-up days. Every edge-of-the-map "square" was an HTML link pointing to the next portion of the map. It was so fast despite the bandwidth and slower CPUs of the time.
Discernment. That is, smart people spending their time on trivial products, projects and ideas, citing an increased paycheck while one's life ticks away.
If you're older, you know what I'm talking about. Younger, and you won't understand yet, and proceed to knock me here.
You kind of made my point: If everybody knows XP shouldn't be directly connected to the Internet (the largest risk these days), then do some sort of blocking to mitigate the known issue(s). Whereas with a newer OS, everyone will assume it's fine connected the way it is and only the determined nation states know certain flaws. In fact, one could argue that the hackers are more focused on the newer stuff.
I also agree with the above poster that much thought should be given before such systems are needlessly connected to the Internet.
According to the summary, web ads (why aren't those blocked?!) are suspect. Windows XP is mentioned, though, as it's to blame somehow. To me, XP (or any older OS) is the devil you know versus the devil you don't - you can plan for the devil you know. Don't assume XP is automatically worse because we haven't discovered everything about 10, etc. For the technically smug, look at the surprise of Meltdown and Spectre.
As to why they aren't upgrading everything all the time, I work in water too, and like other such "invisible" industries, it is big and more complex than you may think. Since these sites must function, NO MATTER WHAT, screwing around with one that is working fine is discouraged since each new "project" requires much planning, thought, approval and budgeting.
In my younger days, in an instant, I brought down a medium-sized city's water supply just by plugging in a serial cable, the large pumps shutting down next to me. The controlling PLC's serial port powered pin #9 (not commonly done) as did the new radio transceiver that I just plugged in. "Did I do that?!!"
I was fortunate in that shutting pumps off ungracefully can cause severe "water hammer" on the main pipes underground - broken pipes sometimes result....From plugging in a serial cable. Desktop jockies don't understand such things.
First of all, it depends upon one's definition: Is 'malware emerges' the vector, or the damaging payload (or both)? Secondly, and I am ignorant to the mechanism, can such exploits include an.EXE or do they require it already be on the machine somewhere?
It is likely they have no fucking idea what causes or prevents cancer.
Keep in mind that the issue is infinitely complex. Considering all the interactions of all the possible human cells and bacteria, viruses, etc., it wouldn't surprise me if they discovered some day that some "germs" damage DNA in certain human cells, but protect the DNA of others!
Good point indeed. And more cellular tower coverage these days means the phones need less transmit power to reach the closest tower.
Further, I'd say cell phones are used less for voice calls than before, and many voice calls even involve a Bluetooth headset with the phone away from the head.
Does anyone know HOW the data leave the car? If a vehicle doesn't have OnStar, even as an option, then how? WiFi? Special radio band? (Cellular
ain't cheap [25 GB?!]
and the manufacturers don't own any cellular towers.)
Decades ago, I taught myself to sneeze entirely through my mouth to prevent the nostril mess afterwards (adding the Dracula elbow in more recent times). Since I usually only sneeze "once at a time", I wonder about sneezing's effectiveness regarding/correlation with the nose. I've been studying the vagus nerve lately (it innervates SO much within the body), that I wonder whether IT is involved in sensing and dealing with pulmonary/esophageal irritation more than anything else...
Some will undoubtedly die from this technological punchline foisted upon the unsuspecting masses, but the biggest, broadest hassle I see are these things being completely befuddled by the irregular, but everyday, happenings on our roads which humans don't even have to think twice about to handle. Traffic will be choked by the most minor of occurrences. Pay close attention to your commutes and you will see what I mean. Just today, my folks saw sleeves of Styrofoam coffee cups being blown about the freeway. What do you think these autonomous cars would do, despite the 70 mph traffic behind it?
Slashdot Mirror
I haven't seen malware for many years ever since I put ad-blockers on each of my loved one's machines.
You do benefit from bridges you never see, though. For instance, if you move to an area in the future that is serviced by that bridge, or if food deliveries to your supermarket come over it.
And I think the food deliveries should increase their prices appropriately. Ya' know, competition.
In medieval europe there were tolls everywhere on roads, bridges, gates, etc... And there was hardly any commerce because it was too expensive. The economy started to pick up once those tolls (many of which were senseless, i.e. not used for repairs or maintenance) were banned.
Even if true, transportation and commerce is very different today.
Yeah, but this would be terrible without some sort of standardized fast-pay system.
Obviously, they already have such things we can employ.
And with a fast-pay system, there will be a lot of people hacking it to evade payment.
Just as mega-corps and politicians are "hacking" around the dubious system we have now.
Secondly, roads are geographic monopolies. If someone decides to overcharge you, you are shit out of luck. Sure, you can go around, but that would suck.
Competition would figure that out too, no doubt. Plus, some roads would actually be maintained better than others, getting drivers' preference!
Charging for what people use makes sense when the cost of compliance is relatively small. Otherwise, you are better off with a socialized cost.
I respectfully disagree. What we have now is a mess. An under-funded, mis-funded mess.
The feedback loops of all these subsidies are long, unwieldy, wasteful and prone to abuse. I don't think the government should be in the business of encouraging anything - let the markets decide what are the best ways. No doubt, things like electric cars will find their niche on their own.
As an aside, I think ALL larger roads should be toll roads, where the users are the ones who pay. Again, it (the market) would resolve everything on its own versus people paying for bridges they'll never see. It's accurate and it's fair.
20 years seems to be plenty of time for a creator to be fairly compensated for their work.
Ask Poe how that worked out.
Driving is not some poky video game that one can pause.
Perhaps they were looking for take-out.
Annnnd, what happens when I'm trying to back away from danger into some tall grass; is it going to let me, or is it going to overrule the human? I'm sick to death of engineers, etc., thinking they've thought of everything, to the detriment of the unsuspecting users, decades later.
I'm not your buddy, guy!
Please let's not forget that these electronic mirrors will require support electronics, wiring and viewing screens. All of these things use electricity, not free sunlight, for the life of the car. And this electricity detracts from the power of the engine of the car, as does the added weight of the these components.
'Doesn't sound like much savings to me, especially considering that these components WILL BREAK in time. When my $250+ auto-dimming mirror broke after being ~12 years old, I replaced it with a $5 mirror from the junkyard of a car that did not have the pointless, auto-dimming feature.
Yep.
Of course shame on all of us that there are still places on the planet where those are the only options...
I can't control where, when, and how many babies people have.
You may mod me off-topic, but my Opera 12 finally stopped working with Slashdot today ('fatal security connection error') and I am sad. :(
Google Maps still works in Opera 12 (~5 years old) as I use it now and again.
I still miss the Javascript-less version of mapping that Yahoo! used to have during the dial-up days. Every edge-of-the-map "square" was an HTML link pointing to the next portion of the map. It was so fast despite the bandwidth and slower CPUs of the time.
Discernment. That is, smart people spending their time on trivial products, projects and ideas, citing an increased paycheck while one's life ticks away.
If you're older, you know what I'm talking about. Younger, and you won't understand yet, and proceed to knock me here.
You kind of made my point: If everybody knows XP shouldn't be directly connected to the Internet (the largest risk these days), then do some sort of blocking to mitigate the known issue(s). Whereas with a newer OS, everyone will assume it's fine connected the way it is and only the determined nation states know certain flaws. In fact, one could argue that the hackers are more focused on the newer stuff.
I also agree with the above poster that much thought should be given before such systems are needlessly connected to the Internet.
It'll break sooner or later,
My money's on "later".
According to the summary, web ads (why aren't those blocked?!) are suspect. Windows XP is mentioned, though, as it's to blame somehow. To me, XP (or any older OS) is the devil you know versus the devil you don't - you can plan for the devil you know. Don't assume XP is automatically worse because we haven't discovered everything about 10, etc. For the technically smug, look at the surprise of Meltdown and Spectre.
...From plugging in a serial cable. Desktop jockies don't understand such things.
As to why they aren't upgrading everything all the time, I work in water too, and like other such "invisible" industries, it is big and more complex than you may think. Since these sites must function, NO MATTER WHAT, screwing around with one that is working fine is discouraged since each new "project" requires much planning, thought, approval and budgeting.
In my younger days, in an instant, I brought down a medium-sized city's water supply just by plugging in a serial cable, the large pumps shutting down next to me. The controlling PLC's serial port powered pin #9 (not commonly done) as did the new radio transceiver that I just plugged in. "Did I do that?!!"
I was fortunate in that shutting pumps off ungracefully can cause severe "water hammer" on the main pipes underground - broken pipes sometimes result.
First of all, it depends upon one's definition: Is 'malware emerges' the vector, or the damaging payload (or both)? Secondly, and I am ignorant to the mechanism, can such exploits include an .EXE or do they require it already be on the machine somewhere?
It is likely they have no fucking idea what causes or prevents cancer.
Keep in mind that the issue is infinitely complex. Considering all the interactions of all the possible human cells and bacteria, viruses, etc., it wouldn't surprise me if they discovered some day that some "germs" damage DNA in certain human cells, but protect the DNA of others!
Good point indeed. And more cellular tower coverage these days means the phones need less transmit power to reach the closest tower.
Further, I'd say cell phones are used less for voice calls than before, and many voice calls even involve a Bluetooth headset with the phone away from the head.
Does anyone know HOW the data leave the car? If a vehicle doesn't have OnStar, even as an option, then how? WiFi? Special radio band? (Cellular ain't cheap [25 GB?!] and the manufacturers don't own any cellular towers.)
I hope they realize that some of us use many of these accounts with non-standard, human-less devices that aren't PCs, tablets, nor cellular phones.
Decades ago, I taught myself to sneeze entirely through my mouth to prevent the nostril mess afterwards (adding the Dracula elbow in more recent times). Since I usually only sneeze "once at a time", I wonder about sneezing's effectiveness regarding/correlation with the nose. I've been studying the vagus nerve lately (it innervates SO much within the body), that I wonder whether IT is involved in sensing and dealing with pulmonary/esophageal irritation more than anything else...
Some will undoubtedly die from this technological punchline foisted upon the unsuspecting masses, but the biggest, broadest hassle I see are these things being completely befuddled by the irregular, but everyday, happenings on our roads which humans don't even have to think twice about to handle. Traffic will be choked by the most minor of occurrences. Pay close attention to your commutes and you will see what I mean. Just today, my folks saw sleeves of Styrofoam coffee cups being blown about the freeway. What do you think these autonomous cars would do, despite the 70 mph traffic behind it?
So, a garbage can blows into the road and the car just stops behind it...forever?